Impact Vector [NOOK Book]

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Chapter 1

If we are to survive in this crowded state on this small rock in space, prejudice must become a memory, as slavery is now a memory, as the genocidal horrors of World War II are now but a memory. I understand the prejudice of man, but I cannot condone it. My hope is that this Journal will one day be used to teach humanity more about itself, and hopefully, through that knowledge, humanity will learn to be at peace with itself and all parts of the human race.

Each person is an animal, flesh and blood, and the same basic instincts that are found in the animal kingdom are found in each person as well. These survival instincts create the feelings of me and mine before you and yours. Indeed such human genetic programming is what causes an individual to place his or her own wellbeing before that of others. Survival instincts give one the feeling that he or she is smarter, faster, stronger, wiser, and more deserving.

If humanity is to become truly civilized, we must understand the animal who demands survival to the point of gathering more than one could ever use, so that person will never need. Indeed it is this excessiveness we call greed that almost eliminated humanity, and I fear that humanity would not survive a second round of what it has seen.

An era of growth should be our goal. An era to meet the needs of the flesh and move beyond those needs.

Excerpt from the Journal of Migel Guido

Our Second Start

by Carlos Juarez

Migel stared about his messy garage, illuminated only by the dim overhead light bulb. There was barely enough room for onefull-sized car, let alone all the equipment for his experiments.

He shoved his hand back through his hair and tried to shake off the sensation that he was about to begin some kind of weird karmic adventure. Hell, an adventure was the last thing he needed.

He frowned and shook his head, then paced about the narrow space, stopping now and then to finger pieces of dismantled machines. How had he ever managed to talk himself into doing these experiments, anyway? Deep in his heart, he knew he'd never succeed even if he unraveled the secrets of certain magnetic phenomenon, most of which had a true conspiratorial nature--

Trying to play God, that's what he was trying to do. Sheer folly.

He kicked at a metal bucket as his gaze traveled along the east wall. The shelves lining the wall were cluttered with the junk of dismantled machines. He shifted his head to the right. Stretching the length of the north wall was his worktable covered with scattered notes and customized equipment, sophisticated but lacking any aesthetic quality.

His shoulders slumped as he recalled all his years of research and study leading to theories that could only be proven through experimentation. Hah! Experimentation in this cramped, unlikely lab?

Migel smoothed back his hair and inched closer to the note-strewn table. Who was he trying to fool? Himself or his colleagues? "Face it," he said aloud, "the real reason you're doing these experiments here instead of in a properly equipped lab is because you're hiding." He lowered his head into his palms and stood there for several moments until the sound of crickets carping outside caught his attention.

He heaved a deep sigh, then turned and strode toward the garage door, reflecting on his nagging need to keep these experiments secret. He absolutely could not draw attention to himself. No matter what happened, no one could know.

As he neared the building's exit, he stopped for a moment at the spot where the original designers had intended an entrance for a car. He ran his hand over the well built, half sanded antique oak table. In the center of the table sat an almost spherical machine fitted with powerful magnets and hand-wound coils in strange configurations. Listening to the machine whine its unique tune, he watched the magnets and coils dance around their respective axes.

Stepping back, Migel stood in the middle of the garage and noticed a green glowing presence just beneath the machine. The strange effect started spreading outward across the tabletop. Wait, Migel thought. It's the table itself! The table was turning an eerie pale green, and he could see right through it. He was fascinated, but only for a few seconds. As the effect continued to spread, he realized it could soon engulf the entire garage.

He sucked in his breath. He didn't dare go near it. In desperation, he grabbed a broom handle to reach the machine's main switch. As the handle entered the machine's field of influence, it, too, turned green and translucent. He took another deep breath. The machine's effect was too far spread.

Migel knew he couldn't reach the machine without stepping into the field. Next to the garage door, the breaker box was also out of his reach.

Startled, he realized that by this time the effect had reached the garage door. He could see through it, and on the other side he saw his wife Rachel.